Zarah Leander Revue

We turn the wheel of time back to gramophone and record. After 14 years, the Zarah Leander revue Der Wind hat mir ein Lied erzählt by Christian Auer and Karl-Heinz Hummel returns to our theatre. The world hits of the Swedish singer are authentically brought to the stage by Tanja Maria Froidl, accompanied by a four-piece band.

Figurehead of the Nazi Film Industry

Zarah Leander was the undisputed star of Berlin’s UFA between 1937 and 1943. Der Wind hat mir ein Lied erzählt recalls her meteoric rise and her fateful meeting with the Schlager and film composer Michael Jary and the lyricist Bruno Balz. Many famous hits, such as “Kann denn Liebe Sünde sein?”, “Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh’n” and “Der Wind hat mir ein Lied erzählt” emerged from this. Promoted by targeted propaganda, Zarah Leander developed into a figurehead of the politically controlled Nazi film industry despite her Swedish origins.

Cast

Tanja Maria Froidl: Zarah Leander
Christoph Pabst: Reporter, Ludolf von Lubin
Robert Kühn: Fan, Bruno Balz
Christian VonderAu: Viennese fan, Michael Jary

Tanja Maria Froidl as Zarah Leander

The biographical-musical homage by the Munich duo Christian Auer (musical director) and Karl-Heinz Hummel (author), staged by director Benjamin Sahler, can be seen again at the Deutsches Theater 14 years after its Munich premiere with 220 acclaimed performances. Leading actress “Tanja Maria Froidl has what it takes to be Zarah Leander,” wrote the Bonn Generalanzeiger at the time. And the Kölner Stadtanzeiger praised: “Starting with the distinctive rolled “R” of the unforgotten Swedish sound and screen star to the unique contra alto singing to the elegant dramatic gestures of a diva, Froidl gave the UFA star, acclaimed during the Nazi era, a charming and amazing equal.“

BAND

Christian Biehlmeier: Violine
Christian VonderAu: Klavier
Martin Talhammer: Bass
Matthias Noack: Klarinette, Saxophon

Fotos © Oskar Henn